Lineman&#39;s protector



ly ,-1932. c. R. bENNlS ET AL 1,366,881

LINEMANIS PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 6, 1930 Patented July 12, .1932

. i at the point of attachment of the latter to UNITED STATES,

PATENT orr ca CLARENCE RAY DENNIS,- 0]? L08 PERRY G. BBINEY, OI TOBRANCE,

' CALIFORNIA IDS no'mc'ron Application fled October e, 1930. semi No. 488,592.

This invention relates to a linemans protector and has as its primary object the pro vision of a device which is adapted to be positioned a-stricle an electrical conductor its insulator support for the purpose of af fording a protection to. workmen against electrical shock while working in roximity to a charged conductor, and whic is especially applicable for useby linemen when Working adjacent electrically charged conductors in wet weather as during a mist or rain, and where moisture accumulated on a conductor support, such as a tower orpole, might occasion a short circuit from the conductor to ground through the body of a person standing on the support and contacting the conductor.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a demountable insulated sheathfor electrical conductors which is so formed that when applied to a conductor and exposed to rain or mist under ordinary conditions, it

will shed water in such manner as to maintain a. dry surface on the sheath, which, will prevent the flow of the electrical current i from the conductor encompassed by the sheath to the film of moisture on the exterior of the sheath.

Another object is to provide a temporary insulatingsheath for electrical conductors adapted to be positioned astride a conductor and supported thereon which is adapted to shed water both interiorly and exteriorly thereof, and which is so formed as tos'hed water from its interior and exterior on opposite sides of a surface area. of .the sheath and so formed and arranged as to be main tained dry and whereby filmspf moisture .interiorly' and exteriorly of thesheath will be prevented from meeting thereon during employment of the sheath for the purpose for which'it is intended.

' With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention residesin' the parts andin the combination, construction and arrangement of a parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed and illustrated by way of exam le in the accompanying drawing, in whic Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation partly in 7 Fig. 5 is a view in cross section taken on theline 5-5 ofvFig. 1;

Fi 6 is a detail in perspective illustratin 1; e application of the invention. Fef

erring to the drawing more specifically, A indicates generally a protective sheath which is formed of any suitable electrically men-conductive material, preferably. rubber or rubber composition whereby the sheath will be rendered flexible and resilient. However, the invention may be carried into effect by forming the sheath of insulatingmaterial of any desired character adapted to 'serve the purpose for which the sheath is intended;

The'sheath is of general tubular form and embodies anv enlarged intermediate portion -7 and reduced end portions 8 and 9; the end portions having a part of their inner surface extending in alignment with the upper inner surface of the enlarged intermediate portion 7. The sheath is formed with a longitudinal slit 10 extending throughout I the length thereof on its under side which slit isopen at its end and whereby the sheath may be positioned'astride a conductor B, as shown in Fig. 6 with the enlarged inter.' mediate portion 7 extending astride insulators G on which the conductor B is carried and with the reduced end portion positioned astride the portions of the conductor B pro- 7 jectin'g from opposite sides of the insulators C. The ortion of the slit 10 formed the intermediate portion 7 of the sheath is of such width as to accommodate the shank portions of the insulators C when the sheath is put in place thereover.

The upper portionof the sheath is arcuate in cross section so as to afford a water shedding surface on its exterior and its side walls are inclined inwardly and downwardly both interiorly and exteriorly thereof toward the slit 10. The surfaces of the sheath are formed of such smoothness as tofacilitate the drainage of water therefrom and are also non-absorptive of moisture so as to minimize accumulations of water thereon.

The margins of the slit 10 are formed to facilitate the draining of moisture or water from the interior of the sheath and for which purpose are here shown as formed with depending drip drain lips 11 and 12 which project downwardly from the longitudinal margins of the slits and which slits are connected together at their ends by lip portions 13 and 14 extending in continuation of the lips 11 and 12 around the inner peripheries of the end portions 8 and 9.

The outer ends of the reduced end portions 8 and 9 are enlarged interiorly and exteriorly and are formed with depending lips 15 and 16 which extend in spaced relation to the lips 13 and 14 to form a gap therebetween and the inner margins of which lips 15 and 16 are outwardly spaced in relation to the inner margin of the end portions 8 and 9 so that when the sheath is supported on a conductor, the lips 15 and 16 will be spaced from the latter.

An important feature of the invention resides in formin the sheath with downwardly extending continuous lips 17 and 18 extending throughout the length thereof in spaced relation to the marginal lips 11 and 12 and which lips 17 and 18 merge into the end lips 15 and 16 thereby forming a continuous drip drain completely surrounding the slit or open portion of the sheath. By this construction, the sheath is formed with an ex ternal surface area surrounding the marginal, lips 11-, 12, 13, and 14 which area inturn is completely surrounded by the lips 17 and 18 and their connecting lips 15 and 16; there thus being an area 19 extending between the lips 11 and 17, an area 20 extending between the lips 12 and 18, an area 21 extending between the lips 13 and 15, and an area 22 extending between the lips 14 and 16 as particularly shown in Fig. 2.

The opposite side walls of the end portions 8 and 9 are cut away as indicated at 23 and 24, the margins of which afiord the' interconnection between the lips 17 and 18 and the end lips- 15 and 16. I

Formed in'the upper interior surfaces of the reduced end portions 8 and 9, are recesses 25 and 26 which extend inwardly irom the lips 13 and ,14 so as to afiord a. clearance between the outer end portions of the members 8 and 9 and the conductor, B on which I the sheath is su ported.

where the sheatlcif formed of flexible ma- As a means or iacilitating of the sheath astride a wire or conductor, as

terial, the outer end portions of the lips 11 and 12 are formed to diverge to their interconnection with the lips 13 and 14 as indicated at 27 and 28, thus forming the slit 10 with enlarged end portions.

Projecting from the upper portion of the end portions 8 and 9 medially of the lips 15 and 16', are V-ledges 29 and 30, the purpose of which will appear hereinafter.

. In the operation of the invention, the

sheath A is positioned astride a conductor B as by introducing the conductor into the slit 10 through either of the enlarged ends 27 or 28 thereof, and in such manner that the sheath will extend over the insulators C with its end portions 8 and 9 projecting over por- .these lips and thereby being prevented from coming in contact with the surface areas 19, 20, 21, and 22.

Such water as may accumulate on the conductor B and be carried thereby to the interior of the sheath will drain into the latter and will drip from the margins of the slit 10 and will thereby be prevented from flowing .onto the surfaces 19, 20, 21, and 22. In this manner streams or films of water draining from the exterior and from the interior of the sheath will not meet on the surface of the latter, and will thereby be insulated apart i by the dry surface maintained between the inargin of the slit and the surrounding drain ips.

By the provision of the V-ledges 29 and 30, the accumulation of drops of water medially of the lips 15 and 16 is prevented thus obviating any drip from the ends of the sheath onto the portions of the conductor therebeneath; the ledges acting to cause such water as may tend to collect on the ends of the sheath to flow each way. from the center thereof and drip from the ends of lip portions 15 and 16 or to follow down the margins of the cutaway portions 23 and 24 and drip from the lips 17 and 18.

By the provision of the recesses 25 and 26,

such water as may flow along the upper surface of the conductor B interiorly of the sheath will not be wiped ofi by the latter until it has reached a point spaced inwardly from the end portions of the lips 11 and 12,.thus

insuring against such water from being deposited on the outer portions of the marginal lips. I

. While we have shown and described a sperequire coming within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim: 1. A linemans protector comprising .a

tubular sheath having its surfaces formed ofmaterial, electrically non-conductive, said.

sheath -being formed with an open ended slit extending longitudinally thereof whereby the sheath may be positioned astride an electrical conductor, and said sheath. being formed with mar 'naldrain lips extending uninterruptedly a ong the edges and aroundf the ends of said slit, and being formed with drain lips extending in spaced relation to said marginalli s. f

. 2. A linemans protector comprisin a tubular sheath having its surfaces forme of material electrically non-conductive, saidsheath being formed with an open ended slit extending longitudinally thereof whereby the sheath may be positioned astride an electrical conductor, and said sheath being formed with marginal drain lips extending along the edges of said slit, and being formed with drain lips extending lon 'tudinally thereof in spaced relation to said mar 'nal lips, and drain lips formed on the en s of said sheath in continuation of said last named 3. A linemans protector comprising a tubular sheath having its surfaces formed of material electrically non-conduct-ive, said sheath bein formed with an open ended slit extendin ongitudinally thereof whereby the sheat may be positioned astride an electrical conductor, and said sheath being formed with marginal drain lips extending along the edges of said slit, and being formed with drain lips extendinglongitudinally thereof 'in spaced relation to saidmarginal lips, drain lips formed on the ends of said sheath incontinuation of said last named lips, and a V-ledge projecting from each end of said sheath medially of said last end lips.

4. In a linemans protector, an electrically non-conductive sheath of general U-shaped cross section for positioning astride anelectrical conductor, said sheath having its end portions terminating in drain lips the lower margins of which are arranged to extend in spaced relation to aconductor on which the sheath is seated, and a V-ledge projecting medially of said lips.

5. In a linemans protector, a tubular electrically non-conductive sheath formed with a longitudinal slit having mar inal drain lips extending along the sides 0 the slit and terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the sheath; the end portions of said sheath-being formed with internal recesseslips merging into the edges of the cut-away from the terminations of said marginal lips,

in the wall portions thereof overlying the end portions'of said slit.

6. In a linemans protector, a tubular sheath formed with a longitudinal slit havin marginal drain lips'extending along the si es of the slit and terminating in' spaced relation to the 'ends of the sheath; the end marginal portions of said slit diverging outwardly.

7. In a linemans protector, a tubular sheath formed with a longitudinal slit having marginal drain lips extending along the. sides of the slit and terminating in spaced relation to the ends of the sheath; the end marginal portions of said slit diverging outwardly, and end lips on said sheath project illllg beyond the diverging end portions of said s 't.

8. A linemans protector comprising a tubular sheath including an enlarged intermediate-body member and reduced end extensions thereon, said end extensions having portions of their internal wall surfaces extending in alignment with a longitudinal wall portion of the intermediate body member, said sheath being formed with a longitudinally extending open ended slit on the side thereof opposite said aligned wall portions, drain lips on the margins of said sht terminating in inwardly spaced relation to the ends of said sheath, the end portions of said end extensions being enlarged and having their under portions cut-away, drain lips extending in spaced relation to said marginal portions, and drain lips on the enlarged ends of said end extensions merging into the edges of said cut-away portions and spaced from the terminations of said marginal lips.

9. A linemans protector comprising a tubular sheath including an enlarged intermediate body member and reduced end ex tensions thereon, said end extensions having portions of their internal'wall surfaces ex tending, in alignment with a longitudinal wall portion of the intermediate body mem-. ber, said sheath being formed with a long1-' tudinally'extending open ended sht on the side thereof opposite said aligned wall portions, drain lips on the margins of said slitterminating in inwardly spaced relation to the ends of said sheath, the endportions of said end extensions being enlarged and having their under, portions cut-away, drain lips extending in spaced relation to said marginal lips merging into the edges of the cutaway portions, drain lips on the enlarged ends of said end extensions merging into the edges of said cut-away portions and spaced and a V-ledge formed intermediate the ends of said end lips.

10. A linemans protector com rising an electrically non-conductive sheat formed with a longitudinal open-ended slit, a pair of an electrically conductive element, suc

spaced endless lips extending along each side thereof and extending upwardly in arcs around the ends of said sheath.

11. In a linemans protector an electrically non-conductive covering for positioning over covering having an arched end portion formed to extend in spaced relation to such element extending under such arch, said arched end portionjbeing formed with an internal channel' the ends of which'channel' are connected by another channel on the under side of such covering.

12. In a linelnans protector an electrically non-conductive covering for positioning over an electrically conductive element, such covering having an arched end portion formed to extend in spaced relation to such element extending under such arch, said arched end a 7 portion being formed with an internal channel such channel being a portion of an endless channel interposed between such element and the outer surface of such covering.

13. A linemans protector comprising an electrically non-conductive sheath formed with a longitudinal open ended slit extending along the under side thereof, a pair of spaced endless lips extending along each side of said slit depending downwardly from said sheath and extending upwardly 1n arcs around the ends of said sheath.

14. A linemans protector comprising an electrically non-conductive sheath formed with a longitudinal open-ended slit a pair of spaced lips extending along each side thereof; the outermost of said lips being endless and extending upwardly in arcs around the g ends of said sheath.

15. A linemans protector comprising an electrically non-conductive sheath formed with a longitudinal open ended slit extending along the under side thereof a pair of spaced endless lips extending along each side of said slit depending downwardly from said sheath, and extending upwardly in arcs around the ends of said sheath, the outer margin of the outer one of said lips describing a greater are than the margin of the inner one of said lips.

K CLARENCE RAY DENNIS.

PERRY G. BRINEY. 

